Title
Relationship between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lipid-lowering agents and risk of stroke: a meta-analysis of observational studies (n = 355,591) and randomized controlled trials (n = 165,988)
Date Issued
01 January 2022
Access level
open access
Resource Type
review
Author(s)
Banach M.
Shekoohi N.
Mikhailidis D.P.
Lip G.Y.H.
Mazidi M.
University of Connecticut
Publisher(s)
Termedia Publishing House Ltd.
Abstract
Introduction: The impact of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) on the risk of different types of strokes is unclear. Therefore, we systematically evaluated the impact of LDL-C levels (cohort studies) and lipid-lowering agents (LLAs) (randomized controlled trials) on the different types of stroke. Material and methods: PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science and Google Scholar were searched up to 1st September 2019. The DerSimonian-Laird method and generic inverse variance methods were used for quantitative data synthesis. The leave-one-out method was performed as sensitivity analysis. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) was used to evaluate the optimal sample size to detect a 35% reduction in outcomes after administration of LLAs. Results: Participants in the highest category of LDL-C had a lower risk of hemorrhagic stroke (RR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.85-0.98, I2 = 0%) compared with the lowest category of LDL-C. Subjects with the highest category of LDL-C had a higher risk of ischemic stroke (RR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.07-1.14, I2 = 0%) compared to the lowest LDL-C category. LLAs decreased the risk of all types of strokes for those who achieved LDL-C < 1.8 mmol/l (< 70 mg/dl; RR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.80-0.96, absolute risk reduction (ARR): 0.7%, number needed to treat (NNT): 143, I2 = 53%, n = 13). Statin therapy decreased the risk of all strokes (RR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.80-0.97, ARR = 0.6%, NNT = 167, I2 = 56%). With regard to ischemic stroke only, LLAs decreased the risk of ischemic stroke for those who achieved LDL-C < 1.8 mmol/l (< 70 mg/dl; RR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.67-0.83, ARR = 1.3%, NNT = 77, I2 = 0%); the same was observed for statins (RR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.69-0.84, ARR = 1.3%, NNT = 77, I2 = 32%). TSA indicated that both benefit boundaries and optimal sample size were reached. There was no significant effect of LLAs regardless of the achieved level of LDL-C on the risk of hemorrhagic stroke; however, TSA indicated that further studies are needed to settle the question and most of the effects were subject to high levels of heterogeneity. Conclusions: Our study sheds light on the debatable association between low LDL-C and different type of strokes. This information can help determine the optimal LDL-C range for stroke prevention, and help plan future LLA studies.
Start page
912
End page
929
Volume
18
Issue
4
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Sistema cardiaco, Sistema cardiovascular Salud pública, Salud ambiental
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85134514162
Source
Archives of Medical Science
ISSN of the container
17341922
Sponsor(s)
MB has received research grant(s)/support from Amgen, Sanofi Valeant, Viatris, and has served as a consultant for Abbott Medical, Am-gen, Daichii Sankyo, Esperion, Herbapol, Kogen, KRKA, Polfarmex, Polpharma, Roche Diagnostics, Sanofi-Aventis, Servier, Teva, Zentiva; he is CMO at Nomi Biotech Corporation; DPM has given talks and attended conferences sponsored by MSD, AstraZeneca and Libytec; GYHL: Consultant for Bayer/Janssen, BMS/Pfizer, Medtronic, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, Verseon and Daiichi-Sankyo. Speaker for Bayer, BMS/Pfizer, Medtronic, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Daiichi-Sankyo – no fees are directly received personally. The other authors declare no conflict of interest.
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus